2021 Ford Explorer Trim Levels

The Ford Explorer has been serving drivers in Plainfield, Indianapolis, and Brownsburg, IN, with fun, safe driving experiences for years. With spacious seating for seven, powerful engine options, and excellent fuel economy, you’ll do well with the Explorer as your next family-friendly ride.

Oh, and did we mention the options the Explorer offers? In this review, our team at Andy Mohr Ford will explore the different trim levels offered in this innovative SUV. Wondering which trim is best suited for you or what the difference between the Ford Explorer Limited and Platinum is? Our team is here to provide answers and tell you how you can test drive one today!

Ford Explorer: Overview

If you’re looking for a 3-row SUV, the 2021 Explorer is where it’s at. As we’ve mentioned, with seating for up to seven passengers, this is the ideal family vehicle for loading up the kids on the way to your next vacation spot or to be the carpool parent for Saturday’s soccer games.

The Explorer is a spacious car in terms of cargo volume as well. Foldable seats allow you to expand the cargo area for longer luggage. Here are the dimensions you can expect to achieve from this impressive SUV no matter which trim level you choose:

• Behind Third Row: 18.2 cubic feet
• Behind Second Row: 47.9 cubic feet
• Behind First Row: 87.8 cubic feet

In addition to plenty of cargo room to store camping equipment or large shopping purchases, the Explorer offers the following cabin measurements when not equipped with the available moonroof:

Front Headroom: 40.7 inches

Second Row Headroom: 40.5 inches

Third Row Headroom: 38.9 inches

Front Row Legroom: 43 inches

Second Row Legroom: 39 inches

Third Row Legroom: 32.2 inches

These dimensions are just the beginning for this SUV. Each trim brings about a wide array of exciting amenities and technologies, from leather-trim seats and captain’s chairs to Ford Explorer engine options.

What Are the Ford Explorer Trim Levels?

Now, let’s move on to the details of the Ford Explorer trim levels. The Explorer offers five trim levels: Explorer, XLT, Limited, ST, and Platinum, as well as a special Hybrid Limited powertrain option. Each trim comes fully loaded with all the tech you need to make family vacations a breeze, along with amenities to make all your road trips more enjoyable. Whether you need performance and towing power or comprehensive safety, you can count on the capabilities of this vehicle.

Ford Explorer

The base trim level is simply known as the Ford Explorer. Standard aboard this vehicle is a 2.3L EcoBoost® I-4 engine that produces 300 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. This vehicle’s powertrain equates to a max towing capacity of up to 5,300 pounds when properly equipped.

Comfort & Convenience

You’ll have plenty of extra comfort inside this trim with a standard tri-zone electronic temperature control system. This system automatically regulates your cabin temperature, so you can focus on driving. Best of all, you can set three separate temperatures throughout the cabin, so everyone has the temperature that’s best for them.

To ensure everyone stays connected wherever they go, this SUV is equipped with a standard FordPass Connect™ 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. This feature provides you with access to Wi-Fi wherever you roam—even while you’re outside of your vehicle—so you can always stay up to date on news and social media.

Safety First

Finally, this trim also equips drivers with all the latest driver assistance features with Ford Co-Pilot360™. Included in this suite of safety features are the following technologies:

• Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking: Warns when you’re too close to an obstacle ahead and can apply the brakes if needed to avoid a collision.
• Blind Spot Information System® with Cross-Traffic Alert: Monitors your side blind zones and alerts you to approaching vehicles on the highway or when backing up.
• Lane-Keeping System: Alerts you when you’re drifting from your lane and corrects your steering if you don’t react.
• Auto High-Beam Headlamps: Toggles between high and low beams to provide you with a clear view of the road ahead.
• Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control: Keeps your pace on journeys ahead and even uses Speed Sign Recognition that can slow down your vehicle if traffic has slowed or stopped ahead.

Have a teen driver in your family? Utilizing the rearview camera and Reverse Brake Assist feature can make learning how to parallel park easy.

Ford Explorer XLT

Secondly, we have the XLT trim, which is equipped with all sorts of impressive technology. It adds a new layer of security with the SecuriCode™ invisible keypad, which you can use for keyless entry.

Do you have the urge to explore? Ready to tackle some adventures? You can enjoy the Terrain Management System™—a seven drive mode controller—for your off-road travels. You can easily switch the dial between these modes:

• Normal
• Trail
• Deep snow/sand
• Slippery
• Sport
• Tow/haul
• Eco mode

Ford Explorer Limited

Move on up to the Ford Explorer Limited trim, and you’ll be greeted with a standard B&O™ Sound System by Bang & Olufsen. In this trim, this premium sound system comes standard with 12 speakers placed throughout the cabin to make the most of your vehicle’s acoustics. The result is a vehicle that equips you to find those finer details in your music.

To provide you with extra situational awareness while you’re parking, this trim comes equipped with Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist+, which adds the following safety system to the prior trim level:

• Evasive Steering Assist: Designed to detect potential danger and provide you with a path to safety.
• Rain-Sensing Windshield Wipers: Detect when it’s raining and automatically engages your windshield wipers, setting them to the best speed as well.
• Voice-Activated Touchscreen Navigation System: Allows you to chart a course to a new destination using the sound of your voice, so there’s no need to take your eyes off the fast-paced highway.

To provide you with just a touch of extra luxury, this trim enhances your steering wheel as well. In the Limited trim, you’ll have a standard heated steering wheel to keep your hands nice and warm during those frosty winter mornings on your way to work. Creating more comfort for you and your passengers are heated and ventilated front seats and heated second-row seats, making any weather condition easy to tackle.

Ford Explorer Limited Hybrid

Looking for the most efficient of the Ford Explorer engine options? Then you’ll enjoy the hybrid powertrain under the hood of the Limited Hybrid trim. This 3.3-liter hybrid engine achieves an EPA-estimated 27 city/29 highway MPG to help you stay on the road longer. Despite being efficient, you’ll still get thrilling performance with 318 horsepower and 322 lb-ft of torque to help you haul a maximum of 5,000 pounds.

Other mechanical features you’ll find at this trim level include:

• An 18-gallon fuel tank good for an EPA-estimated range of over 500 miles per tank.
• A battery-powered electric motor to boost fuel economy.
• A regenerative braking system to recoup lost power and put it back into your system.

Ford Explorer ST

If you’re a real performance enthusiast, you’ll want to upgrade to the Ford Explorer ST trim. That’s because this trim upgrades your vehicle with a standard 3.0L EcoBoost® V6 engine. This powertrain produces 400 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque, giving it a max towing capacity of up to 5,600 pounds. That is more than enough muscle to haul the following items:

• A small hard-sided RV for a thrilling family escape.
• A small recreational boat for unforgettable fun on the water.
• A lightweight travel trailer to aid in home improvement projects or for moving into a new home.

Other performance-enhancing features you’ll find include:

• A sport-tuned suspension.
• Front row sport bucket seats with unique ST embroidery.
• A sport-style steering wheel with paddle shifters.

Driving Made Easy

To give you extra traction while you’re driving over snow or mud, this trim even provides a standard Intelligent 4-Wheel Drive system. This technology applies to all four wheels while managing your torque for optimal control and fuel economy. You’ll be traveling with confidence everywhere you go when you’re equipped with this driveline.

To top this trim off, it also comes standard with an Active Park Assist 2.0 system. Just press a button, and your vehicle will automatically steer you into a parking space. If you’re a driver who often has to park in a crowded city, this feature can be a huge help.

Ford Explorer Platinum

If luxury is what you’re after, the Ford Explorer Platinum isn’t called “Platinum” for nothing. This vehicle comes standard with Tri-Diamond perforated leather seating surfaces with accent stitching. With supple texturing and premium design, this interior trim is a treat for the eyes as well as your back. Finishing out this top-quality look is a genuine Ash Swirl wood trimmed instrument panel and door-trim appliques.

For added sound quality, this trim even lets you enhance your B&O™ Sound System by Bang & Olufsen with an extra two speakers leading to a total of 14 speakers. This’ll add even further to the richness of your audio. When you’re jamming down the highway, let some rays in with the twin-panel moonroof.

Learn More About Ford Explorer Trim Levels

With so much technology inside the 2021 Ford Explorer, it’s no wonder why so many Plainfield, Indianapolis, and Brownsburg, Indiana, drivers are interested in this SUV. Luckily, the team at Andy Mohr Ford is here to give you a full tour of this vehicle. Our sales team knows this SUV inside and out, and we’re here to show you everything.

To get started learning more about the Ford Explorer, schedule a test drive with us today at our Ford dealership!